New degree streamlines path for emergency workers

Alabama Fire College Executive Director Allan Rice, left, and University of West Alabama President Richard Holland sign an agreement at the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa on Monday. The agreement creates a new degree path for students who want to be firefighters or emergency responders. It will allow UWA students to receive credit for fire science and emergency medical services courses taken at the fire college.

Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Ed EnochStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 11:30 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Alabama Fire College and University of West Alabama officials say a new degree path at UWA will provide firefighters and emergency responders an in-state option for higher education that did not exist before Monday.

Richard Holland, UWA president, and Allan Rice, executive director of the Alabama Fire College, signed an tion agreement at the fire college in Tuscaloosa on Monday creating the new Bachelor of Science in technology degree path.

“The affiliation will address a great need in the state,” Holland said.

Beginning this fall, the new degree option will allow firefighters and emergency medical responders or students interested in careers as first responders to enroll at UWA and receive credit for fire science or EMS courses taken at the fire college.

Holland predicted that the agreement could become a model for similar programs in the state. Under the partnership, UWA also plans to eventually offer an associate’s degree and a Master of Science degree in technology.

Ken Tucker, UWA business college dean, said the university will likely roll out the associate’s degree next.

Rice characterized the new degree as part of the college’s strategic plan to promote higher education.

“They were the puzzle fit we have been looking for the last five to six years,” Rice said of the partnership with UWA. The new degree provides an academic option that has been missing for firefighters in Alabama, Rice said. Previously, firefighters have had to rely on degree programs at institutions outside the state.

“It’s been unfortunate that (fire college students) have been able to take upper-level training but not get academic credit,” he said.

Rice estimated that about 40,000 personnel are involved in full-time or volunteer firefighting in Alabama.

“That’s a tremendous pool,” Rice said.

While firefighting has traditionally been a “blue-collar” job, Rice said the profession has become more complex as the list of threats and emergencies — everything from terrorist attacks to natural and chemical disasters —firefighters respond to has increased during the past couple of decades.

A key requirement for the current generation of firefighters is understanding the new technologies developed for emergency response.

“A bachelor’s degree in technology is good preparation,” Rice said.

The degree will cater to students’ academic goals and previous professional experience and training, Holland said.

Students will be able to transfer 32-42 hours of credit for courses at the fire college toward the degree, which requires 120 hours of coursework.

Tucker said the degree’s coursework will primarily be via online distance-learning, though there will be classroom components for those close enough to attend on the Livingston campus.

Tucker said it will be hard to gauge interest until registration begins in the fall but said he believed the college could accommodate the initial demand.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Alabama Fire College and University of West Alabama officials say a new degree path at UWA will provide firefighters and emergency responders an in-state option for higher education that did not exist before Monday.</p><p>Richard Holland, UWA president, and Allan Rice, executive director of the Alabama Fire College, signed an tion agreement at the fire college in Tuscaloosa on Monday creating the new Bachelor of Science in technology degree path.</p><p>“The affiliation will address a great need in the state,” Holland said.</p><p>Beginning this fall, the new degree option will allow firefighters and emergency medical responders or students interested in careers as first responders to enroll at UWA and receive credit for fire science or EMS courses taken at the fire college.</p><p>Holland predicted that the agreement could become a model for similar programs in the state. Under the partnership, UWA also plans to eventually offer an associate's degree and a Master of Science degree in technology. </p><p>Ken Tucker, UWA business college dean, said the university will likely roll out the associate's degree next.</p><p>Rice characterized the new degree as part of the college's strategic plan to promote higher education. </p><p>“They were the puzzle fit we have been looking for the last five to six years,” Rice said of the partnership with UWA. The new degree provides an academic option that has been missing for firefighters in Alabama, Rice said. Previously, firefighters have had to rely on degree programs at institutions outside the state.</p><p>“It's been unfortunate that (fire college students) have been able to take upper-level training but not get academic credit,” he said. </p><p>Rice estimated that about 40,000 personnel are involved in full-time or volunteer firefighting in Alabama. </p><p>“That's a tremendous pool,” Rice said. </p><p>While firefighting has traditionally been a “blue-collar” job, Rice said the profession has become more complex as the list of threats and emergencies — everything from terrorist attacks to natural and chemical disasters —firefighters respond to has increased during the past couple of decades. </p><p>A key requirement for the current generation of firefighters is understanding the new technologies developed for emergency response.</p><p>“A bachelor's degree in technology is good preparation,” Rice said. </p><p>The degree will cater to students' academic goals and previous professional experience and training, Holland said.</p><p>Students will be able to transfer 32-42 hours of credit for courses at the fire college toward the degree, which requires 120 hours of coursework. </p><p>Tucker said the degree's coursework will primarily be via online distance-learning, though there will be classroom components for those close enough to attend on the Livingston campus. </p><p>Tucker said it will be hard to gauge interest until registration begins in the fall but said he believed the college could accommodate the initial demand. </p><p>Reach Ed Enoch at ed.enoch@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p>